UPDATED 6/23/17:
Oakley homeowners like Amanda Cole say it all happened so quickly, when the parts of Cincinnati were slammed with 4 inches of water last August.
"The water was just pouring in within minutes," she said, "And in just 5 minutes we were up to a foot of water in the basement."
They didn't have time to get their cars out of their below street-level garages before 3 feet of water rushed in to their Isabella street homes.
For some, their cars may be ruined. For others, finished basements were destroyed. Will Zurkehlin said "all my power tools were soaked down here, easily in the thousands of dollars."
Now, in June 2017, many homeowners are experiencing the same issues, after another storm dropping as much as 4 inches of water on the Cincinnati area. What can you do?
Priority: Dry Out Basement
Before you worry about what's lost, however, the most important thing is drying out that basement, according to ServePro, the nation's largest disaster restoration specialist.
Patrick Wright of ServePro says says unless you have several high powered fans and dehumidifiers, you should call a professional, to get everything dry before mold grows.
"You can't count on it drying out on its own," Wright explained. "If you leave damp carpeting down there, mold will most likely grow. The only way to guarantee that it won't is to clean it up."
He says wet carpeting must be lifted to be dried, or else mold will grow underneath the cool damp padding underneath.
Possible Reimbursement
Once you get the cleanup started, the next question is how to pay for it. Restoration of a finished basement can hit the thousands of dollars, because most people don't have flood insurance.
The good news is you might have 2 other options.
1. The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati tells us that if the water came up a storm drain, MSD will help with cleanup and may reimburse for some losses.
You can apply for help at their website or by phone, by calling (513) 564-1728.
2. Also, some insurance policies include drain backup coverage, so check with your agent.
Unfortunately, if the rain came in a window or down the walls from a gutter, you are probably on your own unless you paid for Federal flood insurance.
3. If you cannot afford any cleanup, or need a temporary place to live, call the Cincinnati Red Cross at (513) 579-3000.
Finally, if you are looking for a good cleanup company, check the Better Business Bureau's list of top restoration experts here.
Amanda Cole has her fingers crossed. "unless the city covers it, it is coming out of our pocket," the young mom said, wondering how she is going to afford all the repair.
As always, don't waste your money.
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